February 17, 2010

YouTube has introduced a Safety Mode that filters “objectionable content” prior to display on your browser. This setting will ensure that content that does not meet YouTube Community Guidelines (e.g., content that includes nudity, graphic violence, animal abuse, narcotics), and comments that include such content, are blocked.

You can turn Safety Mode ON by scrolling to the bottom of the YouTube page and clicking on the Safety Mode link. This will bring up a menu that allows you to turn Safety Mode On or Off. If you are logged into Google or YouTube you will also see an option in that same spot on the page that allows you to lock this setting in place for the browser you are using. See the YouTube Safety Mode video for more information on how to configure this setting.

Safety Mode is similar to the Safe Search mode you might be familiar with using on the Google Web and Image Search pages. Note that you must set this up for each browser – so if you use Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc. on the same machine – you must set this up separately for each instance of each browser in order for it to be effective.

There are ways around this: the configuration is cookie based, your child can download a new browser (these are free and it is easy to do), etc. While not perfect, it is a giant step in the right direction and an important setting for parents with kids that love YouTube.

Have you tried Safety Mode? How is it working for you? Comment here and let us know.

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